Sata critics canned

Patriotic Front (PF) secretary general Wynter Kabimba has spoken strongly against MMD and United Party for National Development (UPND) leaders wishing President Sata ill-health instead of concentrating on issues that unite the country.

Mr Kabimba, who is also Minister of Justice, said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that it is sad that opposition leaders have resorted to discussing in the press the health of President Sata instead of offering solutions to the challenges facing the nation such as job creation and poverty reduction.

He said MMD and UPND leaders are exhibiting high levels of political immaturity by wishing President Sata ill instead of praying for him to remain strong so that he continues advancing the country’s development agenda.
“When President Sata was campaigning for the 2011 general elections, did they ever hear him say he is immortal?” Mr Kabimba asked.

“The President is a human being. It is, therefore, disappointing for leaders from MMD and UPND to wish the President death,” he said.

Mr Kabimba said: “The UPND, when they came into a pact with the PF in 2008, were hoping that President Sata would die so that their leader [Hakainde Hichilema] could become president of the pact.”

He added: “Mr Sata did not die as they wished after the elections and they should stop thinking that the President will die soon so that they can win presidential elections.”
Mr Kabimba said it is unfortunate the opposition were staking their hopes of assuming office on an assumption that the President may die, saying this is tantamount to holding the wrong end of the campaign stick.

“You need to convince people to win an election and not to be banking on the death of someone else. As PF, we will leave this issue to the Zambian people to judge,” Mr Kabimba said.

He said President Sata is a human being just like any other political leader in the country who is entitled to undergo medical reviews and treatment whenever necessary.

He advised all well-meaning Zambians against listening to opposition political leaders who are bent on criticising Mr Sata unconstructively when he is putting in his best to improve people’s living standards.

Mr Kabimba urged the opposition to desist from issuing statements in the media that have potential to divide the nation.